Inferred elevator car assignments based on proximity of potential passengers

Abstract

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes a destination entry device configured to allow a passenger to indicate an intended destination prior to entering an elevator car and at least one detector configured to detect a proximity between the passenger and at least one other individual that has not indicated an intended destination. A controller is configured to determine whether the detected proximity between the passenger and the at least one other individual satisfies at least one criterion indicating that the at least one other individual likely is associated with the passenger, will board an elevator car with the passenger, and will travel to the intended destination with the passenger. The controller is configured to assign an elevator car to carry the passenger and the at least one other individual to the intended destination when the detected proximity satisfies the at least one criterion.

I claim: 
     
       1. An elevator system, comprising:
 an elevator call entry device configured to allow a passenger to indicate at least one of an intended destination and an intended direction prior to entering an elevator car; 
 at least one detector configured to detect a proximity between the passenger and at least one other individual that has not indicated an intended destination through the destination entry device; and 
 a controller configured to
 determine whether the detected proximity between the passenger and the at least one other individual satisfies at least one criterion indicating that the at least one other individual is likely associated with the passenger and will board an elevator car with the passenger and travel to the intended destination with the passenger, 
 determine whether the passenger and the at least one other individual have previously used the elevator system to travel together to the intended destination based on stored information regarding at least one previous association of the passenger and the at least one other individual, 
 determine whether the at least one criterion is satisfied based on whether the passenger and the at least one other individual have previously used the elevator system to travel together to the intended destination, and 
 assign an elevator car to carry the passenger and the at least one other individual to the intended destination when the detected proximity satisfies the at least one criterion. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The elevator system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the detected proximity includes an indication of a distance between the passenger and the at least one other individual; 
 the at least one criterion comprises a distance threshold; and 
 the at least one criterion is satisfied when the indication of the distance is below the distance threshold. 
 
     
     
       3. The elevator system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the detected proximity satisfies the at least one criterion; 
 the detector is configured to detect a second proximity between at least one second individual and either of the passenger or the at least one other individual; 
 the at least one second individual has not indicated an intended destination through the destination entry device; 
 the controller is configured to determine whether the second proximity satisfies the at least one criterion indicating that the at least one second individual is likely associated with the passenger and will board the elevator car with the passenger and travel to the intended destination with the passenger; and 
 the controller is configured to assign the elevator car to carry the at least one second individual with the passenger and the at least one other individual to the intended destination. 
 
     
     
       4. The elevator system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller is configured to determine a duration of the detected proximity; 
 the at least one criterion comprises a time threshold; and 
 the at least one criterion is satisfied when the duration exceeds the time threshold. 
 
     
     
       5. The elevator system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the detector is configured to provide an indication of a first zone in which the passenger is located; 
 the detector is configured to provide an indication of a second zone in which the at least one other individual is located; and 
 the controller is configured to determine whether a relationship between the first zone and the second zone satisfies the at least one criterion. 
 
     
     
       6. The elevator system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one criterion includes
 the first zone and the second zone being the same 
 or 
 the first zone being within a threshold distance of the second zone. 
 
     
     
       7. The elevator system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the detector is configured to provide an indication of respective positions of the passenger and the at least one other individual relative to at least one reference location; and 
 the detected proximity is based on a distance between the respective positions. 
 
     
     
       8. The elevator system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the detected proximity includes an indication of respective movement of the passenger and the at least one other individual; and 
 the at least one criterion is satisfied when the respective movements correspond to the passenger and the at least one other individual moving together toward or near a landing of the elevator system. 
 
     
     
       9. The elevator system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the detector comprises a turnstile through which individuals must pass before approaching an elevator car of the elevator system; 
 the detected proximity includes an indication of respective turnstiles through which the passenger and the at least one other individual passed; 
 the detected proximity includes an indication of respective times when the passenger and the at least one other individual passed through the respective turnstiles; and 
 the at least one criterion is satisfied when the respective turnstiles are within a threshold distance of each other and the respective times are within a threshold time of each other. 
 
     
     
       10. A method of making elevator car assignments, the method comprising:
 receiving a service request from a passenger outside of an elevator car, the service request indicating an intended destination of the passenger; 
 detecting a proximity between the passenger and at least one other individual that has not indicated an intended destination; 
 determining whether the detected proximity between the passenger and the at least one other individual satisfies at least one criterion indicating that the at least one other individual is likely associated with the passenger and will board an elevator car with the passenger and travel to the intended destination with the passenger; 
 determining whether the passenger and the at least one other individual have previously used the elevator system to travel together to the intended destination based on stored information regarding at least one previous association of the passenger and the at least one other individual; 
 determining whether the at least one criterion is satisfied based on whether the passenger and the at least one other individual have previously used the elevator system to travel together to the intended destination; and 
 assigning an elevator car to carry the passenger and the at least one other individual to the intended destination when the at least one criterion is satisfied. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein
 detecting the proximity includes providing an indication of a distance between the passenger and the at least one other individual; 
 the at least one criterion comprises a distance threshold; and 
 determining whether the detected proximity between the passenger and the at least one other individual satisfies at least one criterion includes determining whether the indication of the distance is below the distance threshold. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein
 the detected proximity satisfies the at least one criterion; 
 the at least one other individual has not indicated an intended destination; and 
 the method comprises 
 detecting a second proximity between at least one second individual and either of the passenger or the at least one other individual, 
 determining whether the second proximity satisfies the at least one criteria indicating that the at least one second individual is likely associated with the passenger and will board the elevator car with the passenger and travel to the intended destination with the passenger, and 
 assigning the elevator car to carry the at least one second individual with the passenger and the at least one other individual to the intended destination. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein
 the at least one criterion comprises a time threshold; and 
 the method comprises 
 determining a duration of the detected proximity, and 
 determining that the at least one criterion is satisfied when the duration exceeds the time threshold. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , comprising
 determining a first zone in which the passenger is located; 
 determining a second zone in which the at least one other individual is located; and 
 determining whether a relationship between the first zone and the second zone satisfies the at least one criterion. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one criterion includes
 the first zone and the second zone being the same 
 or 
 the first zone being within a threshold distance of the second zone. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , comprising determining respective positions of the passenger and the at least one other individual relative to at least one reference location, and wherein the detected proximity is based on a distance between the respective positions. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , comprising
 detecting respective movement of the passenger and the at least one other individual, and wherein the at least one criterion is satisfied when the respective movements correspond to the passenger and the at least one other individual moving together toward or near a landing of the elevator system. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein
 detecting the proximity comprises determining respective turnstiles through which the passenger and the at least one other individual passed; 
 determining respective times when the passenger and the at least one other individual passed through the respective turnstiles; and 
 determining that the at least one criterion is satisfied when the respective turnstiles are within a threshold distance of each other and the respective times are within a threshold time of each other. 
 
     
     
       19. A method of making elevator car assignments, the method comprising:
 receiving a service request from a passenger outside of an elevator car, the service request indicating an intended destination of the passenger; 
 detecting a proximity between the passenger and at least one other individual that has not indicated an intended destination; 
 determining whether the detected proximity between the passenger and the at least one other individual satisfies at least one criterion indicating that the at least one other individual is likely associated with the passenger and will board an elevator car with the passenger and travel to the intended destination with the passenger, wherein the at least one criterion comprises a duration of the detected proximity, and 
 determining that the at least one criterion is satisfied when the duration exceeds the time threshold; and 
 assigning an elevator car to carry the passenger and the at least one other individual to the intended destination when the at least one criterion is satisfied.